Floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin

ABSTRACT

An enclosing floating structure, having an openable end, and pushable by a tug to enclose a burning offshore oil rig through the openable end which is then closed to smother a fire. Pumps mounted on the structure spray water over the burning rig to assist in putting out a fire and to cool the rig. Interconnected pressure relief vents are provided to relieve internal pressures. The annular space defined by the enclosing floating structure in the water for a depth equal to the draft of said structure provides a catch basin for the containment of liquid hydro-carbon liquids. Provision is made for removing pollutants from the catch basin before its capacity is exceeded or the openable end is opened.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,724,555 Chiasson et al. 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [541 FLOATING FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND CATCH BASIN Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-A. Kashnikow [76] Inventors: Randall J. Chiasson, 808 Jefferson St; Ronald G. Bourg 114 Attorney-James B. Lake, Jr.

Thorobred Drive; Tilton J. Arceneaux, 1514 Lynn Avenue, all of [57] ABSTRACT Thibodaux, La. An enclosing floating structure, having an openable end, and pushable by a tug to enclose a burning [22] Filed 1972 offshore oil rig through the openable end which is 1 [21] Appl. No.: 233,384 then closed to smother a fire. Pumps mounted on the structure spray water over the burning rig to assist in putting out a fire and to cool the rig. Interconnected (gl. pressure relief vents are provided to relieve internal pressures. The annular space defined by the enclosing [58] held of Search 169/1 2 floating structure in the water for a depth equal to the draft of said structure provides a catch basin for the 1 containment of liquid hydro-carbon liquids. Provision [56] 1 Reterencas Cited is made forremoving pollutants from the catch basin UNITED STATES PATENTS before its capacity is exceeded or the openable end is o ened. 3,554,290 l/l97l Verdin ..l69/2 R p 3,664,429 5/1972 Jones ..l69/2 R 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Q n n J n n J 3 a J I? W a "(If A id zaa PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 sum 2 [IF 2 FIG. 3

KY1 WAX"? [7 FLOATING FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS AND CATCH BASIN The invention relates generally to fire extinguishing apparatus, and more particularly to a floating structure and catch basin with an openable end for enclosing and smothering offshore oil rig fires.

The invention is an improvement of my telescoping fire extinguishing apparatus invention for smothering offshore oil rig fires that was filed about 24 Dec. 1971.

An object of the invention is to provide floatable structure for enclosing a burning oil rig at sea to smother a fire thereon.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description, claims and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the floating apparatus being pushed to enclose a burning rig,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus similar to FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section lines 3 -3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a partial end view of another specie of the invention, omitting parts common to both species.

Referring to FIGS. l-3, the invention comprises a U- shaped floating structure 10, having an open end 12 closable by a door 14.

The U- shaped floating structure comprises a U shaped hull 16 defining a partially enclosed space of water 18, a part of that on which the structure floats. A catch basin 20 is formed when the open end of the U- shaped hull 16 is closed, equal in depth to the draft of the floating structure. Internally smooth side walls 22 and an end wall 24 are mounted on the hull to conform therewith and extend upwardly therefrom sufficiently to clear the above water height of an off shore oil rig 26. A top or roof 28 is secured to the upper edges of the walls 22 and 24. The door 14 is hinged to the free edge 32 of roof 28. The smooth interior surfaces of the walls, roof and door are lined with insulation material 34. All supporting structure 36 of walls, roof and door are fixed to the exterior thereof.

The door 14 comprises a truss, triangular in crosssection, having a base 38, a triangle side 40 and a hypotenuse 42. It is'hinged along the intersection of the base 38 and side 40 to the roof edge 32, and the apex of the triangular truss is a free end. A pulley 44 is mounted at the apex of the base 38 and'the hypotenuse 42. A second pulley 46 is mounted above the roof 28 and supporting structure 36 on a bracket 47 and in line with the end wall 24. A line 48 is fastened to the bracket 49 and passed around pulley 44 and back over pulley 46 and down to a power winch 50 adapted to take up or let out on line 48. The door is opened or shut thereby. Complementary snap locks 52 are mounted on the adjacent edges of the door 14 and the side walls 22, and adapted to cooperate to lock the door closed. The locks are manually releasable before raising the door.

A plurality of pumps 54 are mounted on the hull l6 exterior to walls 22. They are connected to water intakes opening below the waterline of the hull and exterior to the floating structure 10, and to discharge conduits 58 mounted exteriorly to walls 22 but discharging therethrough adjacent roof 28 to the interior and onto an enclosed burning rig.

A pressure relief duct 60 is slantingly mounted on the exterior of a wall 22 with its lower end and portions connected by feeder ducts 62 to the interior of the floating structure 10. The duct 60 exhausts gases through its highest end portion 64, with the entrained liquids trickling back down the feeder ducts 62 into the interior and catch basin 20.

A pollutant conduit 64 is mounted on hull l6 and is equipped with discharge fittings for pumping the catch basin clear of pollutants entrapped therein.

Referring to FIG. 4, a second specie of the invention comprises telescoping sides and closed end 72 mounted on a hull 16 similar in all respects to the hull priorly disclosed. All parts not illustrated in FIG. 4 are similar to the specie of FIGS. 1-3. The sides70 and end 72 are respectively divided into two telescoping parts 74 and 76 with parts 76 nesting in parts 74 for reducing the overall freeboard of the floating structure when enroute to a burning rig. A pulley 78 is mounted at the top of part 74 and a powerwinch 80 mounted on the hull 16. A line 82 is secured to the bottom of part 76 then led around pulley 78 and down to power winch 80. Taking up the line 82 with the winch 80 raise parts 76 to the position shown in FIG. 4. Paying out the line lowers part 76 by gravity into its nesting position relative to part 74.

Bumpers 84 are attached on the interior upper sides of hull 16 for engaging the sides of the rig as it is being enclosed and when enclosed but the floating structure.

In operation the floating structure 10 is pushed or pulled to the off-shore burning rig by a tug. On arrival if the floating structure is of the second species the telescoping sides are erected. Inalll species the door 14 is opened, pumps started for pumping water to the interior of the floating structure which is then pushed in position to enclose the rig. The door is closed to smother the tire by denying oxygen to support com bustion. The water spray contributes to extinguishing the blaze and cools the heated rig for repairs. A ladder 86 is mounted on a side and leads from the hull to the roof 28 and a trapdoor 88 therein for inspecting the damage after the fire is out. The catch basin is emptied into a lighter, the door opened and the floating structure pulled from around the rig to allow its repair to proceed.

What is claimed is:

1. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus andcatch basin for smothering offshore oil rig fires and preventing oil pollution from an oil well associated therewith, said apparatus comprising: a U-shaped hull having a space defined thereby with an opening for access thereto and adapted to receive an oil rig therethrough and therein, said hull for providing a floating mobile base; walls conforming to the shape of said hull. and mounted thereon to extend upwardly at least as high as an oil rig; a roof mounted on the top of said walls and adapted to cover said space, said hull, walls and roof in combination forming an enclosing floating structure open at an end; and a door hingedly mounted on an edge of said roof adjacent said open end and adapted to close said open end to fully enclose an oil rig above water, and for the draft of said floating structure below water, in said space for smothering any fires associated therewith and catching any oil discharged in a catch basin formed therefor.

in said space defined by said U-shaped hull to exterior of said hull; and discharge fixtures fixed to said conduit exterior to said hull for connecting to a lighter adapted to receive pollutants from said catch basin.

4. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein said walls define pressure relief vents, spaced apart in a slanting line, conduit means connecting said vents and open to the atmosphere at its high end and to the lowest vent at its low end for venting gaseous pollutants and distraining liquid pollutants therefrom to flow back-into said catch basin.

5. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein said walls are horizontally divided and adapted to telescope relative to each other and to nest together; means for connecting said horizontally divided walls for said relative movement; and means mounted on said floating structure to produce said movement, whereby freeboard of said floating structure can be reduced by at least half when enroute to a burning oil rig. 

1. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin for smothering offshore oil rig fires and preventing oil pollution from an oil well associated therewith, said apparatus comprising: a U-shaped hull having a space defined thereby with an opening for access thereto and adapted to receive an oil rig therethrough and therein, said hull for providing a floating mobile base; walls conforming to the shape of said hull and mounted thereon to extend upwardly at least as high as an oil rig; a roof mounted on the top of said walls and adapted to cover said space, said hull, walls and roof in combination forming an enclosing floating structure open at an end; and a door hingedly mounted on an edge of said roof adjacent said open end and adapted to close said open end to fully enclose an oil rig above water, and for the draft of said floating structure below water, in said space for smothering any fires associated therewith and catching any oil discharged in a catch basin formed therefor.
 2. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein a pump is mounted on said floating structure adapted to pump sea water oveR an enclosed oil rig.
 3. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein a conduit is mounted on said hull extending from surface of liquid in said space defined by said U-shaped hull to exterior of said hull; and discharge fixtures fixed to said conduit exterior to said hull for connecting to a lighter adapted to receive pollutants from said catch basin.
 4. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein said walls define pressure relief vents, spaced apart in a slanting line, conduit means connecting said vents and open to the atmosphere at its high end and to the lowest vent at its low end for venting gaseous pollutants and distraining liquid pollutants therefrom to flow back into said catch basin.
 5. A floating fire extinguishing apparatus and catch basin as described in claim 1 wherein said walls are horizontally divided and adapted to telescope relative to each other and to nest together; means for connecting said horizontally divided walls for said relative movement; and means mounted on said floating structure to produce said movement, whereby freeboard of said floating structure can be reduced by at least half when enroute to a burning oil rig. 